Automobile fabric top structures



March 22, 1966 LE VOYD TATE 3,241,877

AUTOMOBILE FABRIC TOP STRUCTURES Filed Jan. 27, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1INVENTOR; L E VOY D TAT E ATT'YS March 22, 1966 LE VOYD TATE AUTOMOBILEFABRIC TOP STRUCTURES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 27, 1964 INVENTOR:LEVOY D TATE W BY MJM.

United States Patent Office 3,241,877 AUTOMOBILE FABRIC TOP STRUCTURESlLe Voyd Tate, 1340 W. Thorndale, Chicago, lill. Filed Jan. 27, 1964,Ser. No. 340,457 Claims. (Cl. 296136) This invention relates to covermembers and, more particularly, to cover members which are particularlywell adapted for use in covering flexible tops or roofs such as, forexample, the folding tops used on automobiles of the type commonlyreferred to as convertibles.

It is a primary object of my invention to enable a novel cover member tobe afforded for use on flexible tops of convertible automobiles, and thelike.

It is another important object of the present invention to enable theoutward appearance of the folding tops of convertible automobiles, andthe like, to be changed in a novel and expeditious manner.

An ancillary object is to enable such a change in appearance to bequickly and easily made.

Another object of the present invention is to afford an attractive andpractical novel cover member for the tops of convertible automobiles,and the like.

Another object is to afford a novel cover member of the aforementionedtype which may be quickly and easily mounted on, or removed from, such atop by one person in a matter of a few minutes.

A further object of the present invention is to afford a novel covermember of the aforementioned type which, when it is mounted in operativeposition on the top of a convertible automobile, is securely heldthereon so that it will remain in place under all normal drivingconditions.

Yet another object of the present invention is to afford a novel covermember of the aforementioned type which sheds water and is otherwisewater-resistant.

Another object is to afford a novel cover member for the tops ofconvertible automobiles, and the like, which is so constructed that itmay be readily pulled snug during installation thereof on such a top.

Another object is to afford a novel cover member for use on the foldingtops of automobiles, and the like, which may be secured in a novel andexpeditious manner to the presently existing fastener members embodiedin such an automobile.

A further object is to afford a novel cover member of the aforementionedtype which is attractive in appearance and practical and efficient inoperation, and which may be readily and economically producedcommercially.

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent fromthe following description and claims and are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings which, by way of illustration, show the preferredembodiment of the present invention and the principles thereof, and whatI now consider to be the best mode in which I have contemplated applyingthese principles. Other embodiments of the invention embodying the sameor equivalent principles may be used and structural changes may be madeas desired by those skilled in the art without departing from thepresent invention and the purview of the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a cover member embodying the principles ofmy invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view showing the cover member shown in FIG. 1disposed in raised position over a convertible automobile of the type onwhich it is adapted to be mounted;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the transparent rear window structure for saidcover member;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary, detail view of a segment of thestructure of FIG. 3;

3,241,877 Patented Mar. 22, 1966 FIG. 5 is a perspective view of afastener pin used in the illustrated embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a detail, sectional view of the joint between the cover memberand the upper edge of the windshield of a convertible automobile and istaken on plane 6-6 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary, detail, sectional view taken on plane 7-7 ofFIG. 3; and

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary, detail, sectional view taken on plane 88 ofFIG. 1.

Referring to the drawings, the cover member 1, embodying the principlesof the invention, is shown in the drawings to illustrate the preferredembodiment of the present invention.

The cover member 1 is of the type adapted to be mounted on anauto-mobile of the type commonly referred so as a convertible such as,for example, the automobile 2 shown in FIG. 2. The automobile 2, as iscommon in automobiles of this type, embodies a folding top 3, includinga cover member 4 made of suitable flexible material such as, forexample, suitably processed canvas, or the like, and a suitablesupporting frame 5 which includes suitable braces or supports such asthose indicated at 6 and 7 in FIG. 2. Frame structures of this characterare well known in the art.

Tops for convertible automobiles, such as the top 3, commonly embodyholes along the rear edge for the purpose of fastening these portions tothe frame of the automobile by means of fastener members, e.'g., screws8, extending through the holes into the frame with male snap fastenerheads.

The transparent, front windshield 9 has a rubber seal strip 10 along itsupper edge sealing the joint between the upper edge of the windshieldglass and the windshield cross brace 11.

As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, frames for the topsof convertible automobiles such as, for example, the frame 5, alsocommonly embody a front cross brace such as the cross brace 12 shown inFIG. 6, this latter cross brace 12 extending transversely across thewidth of the front end portion of the top 3. The front edge portion 4aof the cover member 4 is clampingly secured against a flange 13 on thecross brace 12 by a suitable mounting strip 14 suitably secured to thefront face of the cross brace 12, a suitable gasket 15 being disposedbetween the front edge portion 4a and the flange 13 to afford aweather-resistant resilient seal therebetween.

Pins, such as the pin 16 shown in the FIG. 6, are commonly mounted onthe cross brace 11 of such convertibles, and the pins 16 are adapted tobe received in sockets such as the sockets 17 in the cross brace 12 whenthe top of the convertible is mounted in normal erected positionthereon. Locking pins such as the pin 18, FIG. 6, commonly extendtransversely through the pins 16 when the top 3 is disposed in normalclosed position on the upper edge of the windshield 10'. Handles, notshown, are commonly afforded in automobiles such as the automobile 2 foractuating the pins 18* and causing the latter to be inserted into, andremoved from, the pins 16 and sockets 17 to thereby lock, and release,respectively, the front end portion of the top 3 relative to thewindshield 10'.

The cover member 1 shown in the drawings toillustrate my novelinvention, is of the type adapted to be mounted on the top 3 of aconvertible of the type shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings. As will beappreciated by those skilled in the art, and as will be discussed ingreater detail presently, my invention is not limited to a cover memberwhich may be used on a convertible of the particular type shown in thedrawings and changes may be made in the cover member 1, or in theautomobile, or the like, on which it is to be mounted without departingfrom the purview of my invention.

The cover member 1 shown in the drawings embodies a body portion 19,which may be made of any suitable flexible sheet material such as, forexample, canvas or a suitable synthetic resinous material such as, forexample, suitable polyvinyl chloride sheeting. The body portion includesa substantially rectangularly-shaped central panel having side panels 21and 22 extending along opposite front end portions thereof and securedthereto by suitable means such as stitching 23 and 24, respectively. Theside panels 21 and 22 embody panel segments 25 and 26, respectively,forming segments of the top cover at the rear corners of the top coverbetween the rearward edge of the side windows of the automobile and therear window of the top cover.

The rear panel 27 completes the panels of the top cover 1. It is asubstantially trapezoidal cover stitched by stitching 28 to the rearedge of panel 20 and by stitching 29 and 30 to the inner sides of theside panel segments 25 and 26. The edges 31 and 32 of side panelsegments 25 and 26 and edge 33 of rear panel 27 define an opening for atransparent rear window.

Beading 35 extends completely around the outer peripheral edge of thebody member 19 of the cover member 1, FIG. 1, and embodies a suitablecore such as cording 36, FIG. 6, to thereby afford a strongly reinforcededge portion for the body member 19 which is resistant to tearing andalso tends to retain its desired shape. The beading 35 is secured to theouter free edge portions of the panels 20, 21, 22, 25, 26, and 27 bystitching 37.

The body member 19 of the cover member 1 is of such size andconfiguration that it will fit over the cover member 4 of the top 3 incovering relation thereto with an exactly tailored fit when it ismounted thereon and pulled snug in the manner which will be discussed ingreater detail presently. For this purpose, the front end of the bodymember 19 is shaped to conform to the front end of the top 3, and theopposite sides of the body member 19 extend substantially straight backfrom the front end thereof to a point where they flare outwardly awayfrom each other, when the body member 19 is disposed in fiat position,to conform to the shape of the cover member 4 of the top 3. The openingformed in the rear end portion of the body member 19 is also shaped toconform to the shape of the window 38 formed in the rear end of the top3 of the automobile 2.

A plurality of snap members 39, FIGS. 1 and 2, corresponding in numberand position to the fastening members 8 disposed along the top 3 of theconvertible 2, are secured on the rear edge portions of the rear sidepanels 25 and 26 of the body member 19. The snap members 39 are femalesnap members adapted to clampingly receive the heads of respective onesof the fastening members 8. The snap members 39 are so positioned on thebody member 19 that when they are all attached to respective ones of thescrews 9, the portions of the body member 19 disposed between adjacentpairs of snaps 39 are pulled taut. Two other snap members 40 and 41,which are constructed in the same manner as the snap members 39, may bemounted on the side panels 25 and 26, FIG. 1, in position to clampinglyreceive the heads of the two pins fastened by any suitable means on thetop 3, when the cover member 1 is mounted on the erected top 3.

An extension panel 42 is secured to the front end of the body member 19by the stitching 43 occurring on that portion of the peripheral edgeportion of the body member 19, FIGS. 1 and 6. The extension panel 42 issubstantially rectangular in shape and extends longitudinally across thefront end of the body member 19. The outer longitudinal edge of panel 42has at spaced intervals therealong grommets 43 which lie substantiallyagainst the frame channel 44 which is mounted along the edge of themetal frame 45 on cross brace 11.

In the installation of my novel cover member 1 on an automobile top suchas the top 3, the cover member 1 is first laid on the top 3 and thesnaps 39 are engaged with the respective fastening members 8. The snaps40 and 41 may then be engaged with the aforesaid pins and the extensionpanel 42 may then be manually doubled back under the brace 12 on the top3. By pulling on the grommets 43, along the free edge portion of theextension panel 42, the panel 42 is pulled tautly between the braces 11and 12 and thereby holds the cover member 1 in such tautly stretchedrelation, FIG. 6. Openings such as the openings 46 may be afforded inthe extension panel 42 for receiving the locking members such as, forexample, the locking pins 16, in the manufacture of the cover member 1.However, if such openings are not afforded in the extension panel 42during the manufacture thereof, the person installing the cover member 1on a top such as the top 3 may make a cross slit at the proper place inthe extension panel 42 to permit any locking members, such as thelocking members 16, to be inserted therethrough.

For securing edges 47 and 48 of the top cover 1 over the top 3, thereare provided along said edges inwardly directed flaps 49 and 50 stitchedby stitching 51 to lip 52, FIG. 8, of the panels 25 and 26. The flaps 49and 50 preferably are rigid enough to be self-supporting and are tuckedbehind the edge of the top 3. If desired, the flaps 49 and 50 may beprovided with grommets 53. These grommets receive the shanks of pinfasteners 54, FIG. 5.

Pin fasteners 54 comprise a head 55 and bendable shank members 56 and57. The pin fasteners 54 are inserted through grommets 53 and thepointed ends are pushed through the fabric of top 3, after which theshanks 56 and 57 are bent outwardly to secure the flaps 49 and 50against the top 3.

The top cover 1 may have additional flaps along the side edges, e.g.,the flaps 58 and 59 which are similar to flaps 49 and 50. The flaps 58and 59 may have grommets 60 for attaching said flap to the fabric of top3 by fastener pins 54 in the same manner as previously described.

The rear window of the top 3 preferably, though not essentially, isremoved when cover top 1 is installed. The rear window 61 for cover top1 is a transparent panel of a synthetic resin polymer secured in afabric frame 62, FIGS. 3, 4 and 7. The frame 62 comprises side strips 63and 64, a bottom strip 65 and a top strip 66. The latter strip iscomposed of two strips, a strip 67 joined with the upper ends of sidestrips 63 and 64 and a strip 68 joined to the upper, longitudinal edgeof strip 67 by a zipper 69. Strips 67 and 68 can be separated completelyby unzipping the zipper 69.

The strip 68 has a plurality of grommets 70 spaced along its length.These grommets received fastener pins 54, FIG. 7, the shanks of whichare pushed through the fabric flap 77 underlying the rearward end ofrear panel 27 of top cover 1 and stitched thereto along its upper edgeby stitching 78. The strip 68 is thus removably secured to flap 77 oftop cover 1 by the fastener pins 54 and is severable while so attachedfrom the upper edge of strip 67 by unzipping Zipper 69.

The lower frame strip 65 of the black window has a flap portion 71. Thelatter has a plurality of snap members 72 spaced therealong and adaptedto be snapped on snap counterparts on the frame of the convertible atthe lower edge of the rear window. If such snaps are not provided on aparticular model, the members 72 may be grommets for receiving fastenerpins 54, by which the lower edge of the rear window frame is attached tothe lower edge (if available for this purpose) of top 3 beneath its rearwindow or for receiving screws to attach said lower edge to the frame ofthe convertible.

As can be seen in FIG. 3, the upper edge 73 of the transparent windowsheet 61 lies behind frame strip 67 slightly below zipper 69 while thelower edge 74 lies behind frame strip 65 at about the junction betweenstrip 65 and flap 71. The sides 75 and 76 of window sheet 61 projectbeyond the outer edges of the window frame side strips 63 and 64,respectively. This provides flaps which can be tucked between top 3 andcover top 1 to hold the side edges of the window in place. When the rearwindow is to be open, zipper 69 is unzipped, and the window can befolded down by withdrawing the tucked sides 75 and 76. The window can beremoved, if desired, by unsnapping snaps 72 (or by removing the otherfastener elements, if used in place of snaps 72).

Also, if more permanent attachment of the side edges of the window frameis desired, these edges may be attached to the top 3 by thegrommet-fastener pin arrangement heretofore described, by snaps, or thelike. The tucked flap arrangement, however, is the most desired andconvenient one.

The invention thus provides a detachable, protective top cover for anautomobile of the type having a windshield provided with a rail alongthe top edge thereof and a convertible top supported by frame membersincluding a front frame piece resting on and detachably secured to therail. The top cover comprises a flexible sheet fashioned to conform tothe shape of the top to which it is applied. The invention embodiesnovel constructions such as flap structures and coacting fastener meansfor attaching removably the top cover and the rear window panel, novelrear window structures, and the like.

Thus, while I have illustrated and described the preferred embodimentsof my invention, it is to be understood that these are capable ofvariation and modification, and I therefore do not wish to be limited tothe precise details set forth, but desire to avail myself of suchchanges and alterations as fall within the purview of the followingclaims.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. A detachable, protective top cover for an automobile of the typehaving a windshield provided with a rail along the top edge thereof anda convertible top supported by frame members including a front framemember resting on and detachably secured to said rail, said top covercomprising a flexible sheet fashioned to conform -to the shape of thetop to which it is to be applied, the rear portion of said top coverhaving an opening with a top edge and opposite side edges, a transparentwindow member with a flexible frame about said transparent window memberin said opening, a flap on the underside of said top cover adjacent tosaid top edge, means detachably securing the top edge of said flexibleframe to said flap, and the said edges of said transparent window memberprojecting farther than the side edges of said flexible frame and alsofarther than the side edges of said opening whereby said side edges ofsaid transparent window member are adapted to be tucked between theedges of said top cover adjacent the side edges of said opening.

2. A top cover as claimed in claim 1 wherein said flexible frameincludes a fabric strip extending across the upper side thereof, andremovable fastener pins extending through and securing together saidflap and said strip.

3. A cover top as claimed in claim 2 wherein said fabric strip comprisesa pair of strips detachably held together by a zipper extending thelength of said fabric strip.

4. A rear window panel for a convertible top of an automobile comprisinga flexible frame with an opening therein, a transparent window membersecured -to said frame and covering said opening, the side edges of saidtransparent window member projecting beyond the respective side edges ofsaid frame to provide tuck flaps adapted to be tucked behind an openingfor said rear window panel in the rear portion of said convertible top.

5. A rear window panel as claimed in claim 4 wherein said flexible framehas a row of fastener pin-receiving holes therein near a longitudinaledge of said flexible frame.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 337,182 3/1886McGill 2496 1,613,270 1/1927 Glover 296-136 X 2,390,751 12/ 1945Tinnerman.

2,479,825 8/ 1949 Fleischhauer 296--136 2,765,192 10/ 1956 Blake.2,981,564 4/ 1961 Lieberman et al. 296- A. HARRY LEVY, Primary Examiner.

1. A DETACHABLE, PROTECTIVE TOP COVER FOR AN AUTOMOBILE OF THE TYPEHAVING A WINDSHIELD PROVIDED WITH A RAIL ALONG THE TOP EDGE THEREOF ANDA CONVERTIBLE TOP SUPPORTED BY FRAME MEMBERS INCLUDING A FRONT FRAMEMEMBER RESTING ON AND DETACHABLY SECURED TO SAID RAIL, SAID TOP COVERCOMPRISING A FLEXIBLE SHEET FASHIONED TO CONFORM TO THE SHAPE OF THE TOPTO WHICH IT IS TO BE APPLIED, THE REAR PORTION OF SAID TOP COVER HAVINGAN OPENING WITH A TOP EDGE AND OPPOSITE SIDE EDGES, A TRANSPARENT WINDOWMEMBER WITH A FLEXIBLE FRAME ABOUT SAID TRANSPARENT WINDOW MEMBER INSAID OPENING, A FLAP ON THE UNDERSIDE OF SAID TOP COVER ADJACENT TO SAIDTOP EDGE, MEANS DETACHABLY SECURING THE TOP EDGE OF SAID FLEXIBLE FRAMETO SAID FLAP, AND THE SAID EDGES OF SAID TRANSPARENT WINDOW MEMBERPROJECTING FARTHER THAN THE SIDE EDGES OF SAID FLEXIBLE FRAME AND ALSOFARTHER THAN THE SIDE EDGES OF SAID OPENING WHEREBY SAID SIDE EDGES OFSAID TRANSPARENT WINDOW MEMBER ARE ADAPTED TO BE TUCKED BETWEEN THEEDGES OF SAID TOP COVER ADJACENT THE SIDE EDGES OF SAID OPENING.